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Table 2 Prevalence of keywordsa related to septic patients’ symptom presentation. Prevalence of keywordsa related to septic patients’ symptom presentation, according to EMS documentation, among 359 septic patients arriving by EMS and admitted to Södersjukhuset through the ED during 2013 and in-hospital mortality in relation to these keywords

From: Presentations of adult septic patients in the prehospital setting as recorded by emergency medical services: a mixed methods analysis

Order

Keyworda

Prevalence

In-hospital mortality

Number of total 359 patients

Percent (%) and 95% CI

Number of all patients with the keyword present/ documented

Percent (%) and 95% CI

Top-5 highest mortality are numbered1–5

1

Abnormal, or suspected abnormal temperature

230

64.1

(58.9–69.0)

48/230

20.9

(15.8–26.7)

-Confirmed or suspected fever

Fever defined as statement fever or statement temperature >38°[41] OR suspected fever defined as statement feeling hot/warm, increasing temperature or similar expressions

210

58.5

(53.2–63.6)

39/210

18.6

(13.6–24.5)

-Shivering

58

16.2

(12.5–20.4)

6/58

10.3

(3.9–21.2)

-Hypothermia

Hypothermia defined as statement hypothermia or “very low temp” or statement temperature <36°[41]

10

2.8

(1.3–5.1)

8/10

80.01

(44.4–97.5)

2

Pain

Abdominal, extremity, back, undefined, urinary tract, joint, chest, general, headache, throat, wound, painful muscle cramp, positive Pasternatsy’s sign (costovertebral angle tenderness)

138

38.4

(33.4–43.7)

28/138

20.3

(13.9–28.0)

3

Acute altered mental status

Abnormal behaviour or level of consciousness (excluding previously known dementia or mental retardation without statement worse) OR abnormal verbal response defined as no/decreased verbal response [25]

137

38.2

(33.1–43.4)

51/137

37.24

(29.1–45.9)

4

Weakness of the legs

126

35.1

(30.2–40.3)

27/126

21.4

(14.6–29.6)

-Decreased ability to stand or walk including need to carry/lift the patient

98

27.3

(22.8–32.2)

19/98

19.4

(12.1–28.6)

-Fallen/found on the floor or corresponding place

57

15.9

(12.3–20.1)

13/57

22.8

(12.7–35.8)

5

Breathing difficulties

109

30.4

(25.6–35.4)

39/109

35.85

(26.8–45.5)

6

Loss of energy

Defined as fatigue, weakness, faintness or similar expressions

94

26.2

(21.7–31.1)

24/94

25.5

(17.1–35.6)

7

Gastrointestinal symptoms

86

24.0

(19.6–28.7)

21/86

24.4

(15.8–34.9)

-Vomiting

58

16.2

(12.5–20.4)

11/58

19.0

(9.9–31.4)

-Diarrhoea

35

9.7

(6.9–13.3)

8/35

22.9

(10.4–40.1)

8

Abnormal urination b

58

16.2

(12.5–20.4)

13/58

22.4

(12.5–35.3)

-Decreased urinary volumes

12

3.3

(1.7–5.8)

7/12

58.32

(27.7–84.8)

9

Reduced intake of food, fluid or oral medicines

47

13.1

(9.8–17.0)

18/47

38.33

(24.5–53.6)

10

Nausea

36

10.0

(7.1–13.6)

5/36

13.9

(4.7–29.5)

11

Malaise

Defined as expressions such as feeling sick, feeling bad, not feeling well and similar expressions

19

5.3

(3.2–8.1)

3/19

15.8

(3.4–39.6)

12

Mood change

Anxiety or fear OR feeling of depression

18

5.0

(3.0–7.8)

4/18

22.2

(6.4–47.6)

13

Dizziness

14

3.9

(2.1–6.5)

1/14

7.1

(0.2–33.9)

14

Fainted but now awake

10

2.8

(1.3–5.1)

2/10

20.0

(2.5–55.6)

  1. EMS = Emergency Medical Services. CI = Confidence Interval
  2. aPrimary keywords (codes and subcategories derived from the content analysis of septic patients arriving by EMS and admitted to Södersjukhuset during 2012) or combined keywords (consisting of several primary or combined keywords). Combined keywords are bolded, primary keywords are not. For combined keywords, the included primary or combined keywords are presented in descending order beneath the name of the keyword
  3. bAbnormal urination defined as hematuria without trauma, bad smelling or cloudy urine, increased frequency of urination OR urinary tract pain OR decreased urinary volumes OR dysfunction of urinary catheters defined as obstruction/leakage/problematic urinary catheters including nefrostomias